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  • Fantasy Football Preview: AFC East 🏈

Fantasy Football Preview: AFC East 🏈

Breaking down each AFC East team's fantasy outlook - player to target, player to avoid and a sleeper pick for every team!

Buffalo Bills

Player to Target: James Cook

Current ADP: RB14

Walter’s Rank (PPR): RB19 (He’s our RB15 in Half-PPR and STD)

Despite James Cook ranking behind his ADP in the WalterPicks app, we are still targeting him thanks to his enticing ceiling (RB6). In 2024, Cook finished 9th in PPR points per game and 1st in rushing touchdowns. He scored 18 or more PPR points 8 times, including 5 games with over 25 points (all stats include NFL playoffs). The Bills did little to address their weapons during the offseason, and we project James Cook to have massive ceiling weeks as one of the only options not named Josh Allen on the Bills.

Player to Avoid: Dalton Kincaid

Current ADP: TE14

Walter’s Rank (PPR): TE11

Dalton Kincaid ranks slightly higher than his current ADP, but there are areas of concern for the Bills tight end. Last season, in a similar scenario, Kincaid massively disappointed fantasy managers. While he had a strong target share (20.2%), he finished 22nd in PPR points per game and scored double-digit PPR points only 3 times all season. Additionally, he scored only 3 touchdowns. Of the tight ends we have ranked 8th-13th, Kincaid has the lowest ceiling (TE6). We prefer the ceiling and floor combination of Colston Loveland, a tight end going in Kincaid’s range.

Sleeper Pick: Ray Davis

Current ADP: RB43

Walter’s Rank (PPR): RB56

Ray Davis is our sleeper pick for the Bills because of how important a handcuff he is. He is going undrafted, but we project his ceiling to be the RB15! There is also a strong chance he weeks where he can start, even if Cook stays healthy. Last season, he scored 13 or more PPR points 4 times. Davis is a bench stash with upside that is tough to come by.

Miami Dolphins

Player to Target: Jaylen Waddle

Current ADP: WR32

Walter’s Rank (PPR): WR22

Jaylen Waddle is someone we have projected much higher than his current ADP. He disappointed last season, but this can be partially explained with injuries (to himself and to Tua). This is a receiver still capable of massive spike weeks, and is due for some strong positive touchdown regression. We would generously describe Tyreek Hill’s role in the offense as “unstable”. There are simply too many paths to Waddle outperforming his ADP to hold a grudge against his performance last season.

Player to Avoid: Darren Waller

Current ADP: TE26

Walter’s Rank (PPR): TE26

Darren Waller recently came out of retirement to sign with the Dolphins. We recommend not falling for the name value of Darren Waller. He is almost 33 years old and has not played football in over a year. It is also worth noting that the most games he has played in a single season, over the last 3 seasons, is 12. He could prove us wrong, but a lot of things would have to go his way.

Sleeper Pick: Tua Tagovailoa

Current ADP: QB22

Walter’s Rank (PPR): QB20

In only 11 games last season, Tua Tagovailoa finished as the QB22. Prior to his season-ending concussion, Tua went on a tear, scoring 23 or more fantasy points in 4 of his last 6 games. The season prior, where he played all 17 games, he was the QB9 overall. His injury risk is certainly worth acknowledging, but the Miami offense has too many electric options to not at least consider Tua as a serviceable quarterback option off waivers or in the last round of your drafts. He is an excellent sleeper option in superflex leagues.

New England Patriots

Player to Target: Stefon Diggs

Current ADP: WR42

Walter’s Rank (PPR): WR42 (but wait until you hear his ceiling!)

Stefon Diggs suffered a season-ending ACL tear in 2024, and his hype has gone silent since signing with New England (outside of that one video of him on that boat). In 2024, he played in 8 games and scored double-digit PPR points 6 times. That was with far more substantial target competition than he is going to immediately see on the Patriots. As Drake Maye continues his ascent, we project Diggs to assist him greatly. Diggs has a ceiling of WR16, far higher than the 5 wide receivers sandwiching him in our rankings. Target Stefon Diggs.

Player to Avoid: Rhamondre Stevenson

Current ADP: RB39

Walter’s Rank (PPR): RB41

There are not many fantasy players targeting Rhamondre Stevenson, but we project him to be the far worse option between him and TreVeyon Henderson. New England used substantial capital to draft Henderson, and we do not project that to bode well for Stevenson's chances. We like other targets in this range, like Isiah Pacheco, much more.

Sleeper Pick: Drake Maye

Current ADP: QB14

Walter’s Rank (PPR): QB13 (CEILING QB5!!!)

In the 11 games he played his rookie season, Drake Maye finished 5th in rushing yards per game among quarterbacks. That alone makes Maye an incredibly enticing fantasy option. And upgrades to his coaching staff and offensive line give us plenty of reason to believe he can make a leap as a passer. He scored 18 or more fantasy points 6 times throughout his rookie campaign, and he is someone we recommend targeting if you are waiting a bit to take a QB.

New York Jets

Player to Target: Justin Fields

Current ADP: QB8

Walter’s Rank (PPR): QB14

Justin Fields is someone we recommend targeting IF he falls in your draft. We have him ranked behind his current ADP, but that is primarily because the WalterPicks projections team is low on the Jets as a whole. In his range of quarterbacks, Fields has the highest ceiling (QB4). His rushing upside is fantastic, and he has shown that you do not need to be an effective NFL quarterback to be an effective fantasy football quarterback. Ideally, you snag Fields a round or two later than his ADP to try and capitalize on the ceiling.

Player to Avoid: Garrett Wilson

Current ADP: WR14

Walter’s Rank (PPR): WR19

In 2024, Garrett Wilson finished 19th in PPR points per game with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. This year, he has a quarterback who is worse at throwing the ball than Rodgers. Justin Fields should be great for his own fantasy football endeavors, but not for Garrett Wilson's. Wilson is certainly talented, but when factoring his ceiling and floor combination of 12/33, we prefer options such as Mike Evans or Marvin Harrison Jr., who are going in a similar range of the draft.

Sleeper Pick: Breece Hall

Current ADP: RB12

Walter’s Rank (PPR): RB12

It may be strange to refer to Breece Hall as a sleeper pick, but he is going so much later than he was last season. Hall finished 14th in PPR points per game in 2024, but it is worth noting that he scored 18 or more fantasy points 7 times, including 3 games with 24 or more. Perhaps the most enticing reason that he is our sleeper pick for the Jets is that his ceiling is RB2. Do not sleep on Breece Hall.